Minnow bucket



Aug. 30, 1949. A. G. MORREAU MINow BUCKET Filed NOV. 5, 1946 5 w o 3 0. o 4: f f rj/ \w\/\\w\ v W 6 2 i 3A H33 M o Mv. 4 w w w a :LAE-'Ea Patented Aug. 30, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MINNoW BUCKET Alfred G. Morreau, Marshall, Tex. Application November 5, 1946 seria1 No. 707,919

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to minnow buckets, and more particularly to a minnow bucket of simplified form in which the water is kept in a fresh, cool, and aerated condition to the endthat live bait can be kept healthy and vigorous for a considerable period of time.

An object of this invention is to provideY a minnow bucket in which the coolant compartment and the bait compartment are easily accessible, for the yconvenient replenishment of coolant and the extraction of bait therefrom.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this character in which the water is in constant contact .with the outside air and the water is cooled by evaporation as well as by the eect of the coolant.

Another object of this invention is to provide means incorporated with the bucket to conduct fresh cool water from the melting of the coolant, when this coolant is ice, to the bottom of the bucket, further means being provided to void the Warm stale water replaced by this fresh Water.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a Vbait bucket which is particularly well adapted for preserving minnows in healthy condition, which is inexpensive and practicable to manufacture, extremely simple and convenient to use, and which is sufciently sturdy to give durable service.

With these and other objects in View as will appear hereinafter, this invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which form a material part of this application, and in which:

Figure l is a top plan View of the bucket with the lids closed.

Figure 2 is a sectional View of the bucket taken on the line 2 2 in Figure 1 and showing the lids partially opened.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational View showing the detail of the handle and lid fastening means, and the construction of contiguous portions of the bucket.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, this bucket comprises a'container preferably of the form of a truncated cone, the tapered sides Ill of Which are mortised at the base to receive a bottom I2. A cross member i4 is rigidly secured at both ends thereof to the top of the walls l0,

being disposed secantly to this circular top, and unequally sized lids IIB and it are hingedly secured'to said cross member I4, along flat sides of these lids adapted to abut said cross member. These lids may be reinforced by diametrically disposed straps 22 and 24, which will ordinarily be secured to the lids by screws 25 when this bucket is constructed of wood. In this connection, it may be pointed out that wood or some other porofus material is preferred for the construction of this bucket since the Water contained therein is cooled by the evaporation of Water slowly emitted through the minute pores of such material. The lids may be secured down by hook members 26 engageable in eye members 28 secured on the sides l of the bucket, and a pair of handles 30 may be laterally secured to the sides I0 Vto make the bucket readily portable.

A coolant compartment, generally indicated by the numeral 3l is provided at the top and at one side of the container, the compartment being formed by a horizontally disposed false bottom 32 secured to one Side of the container as by the mortising indicated at 34, and a substantially vertical wall portion 36 secured atr the top thereof to one edge of the cross bar i4 and secured at the bottom end thereof to the edge of the false bottom 32.

A drain pipe 38, which may be constructed of metal with an annular attachment flange 40 on the upper end thereof, is secured by screws 4| threaded through this ange into the false bottom 32 which is suitably apertured to receive this pipe. The pipe 38 depends in substantially vertical position from the false bottom 32 to Within a Very short distance of the bottom l2 of the container, and the function of the pipe is to drain the cold water formed from the melting of the ice in the compartment 3l, provided ice is used therein, into the lower portion of the container, thus assuring that this fresh water is made available to the live bait confined in the container.

The side Walls I [I of the container are apertured as at 42, to provide an overflow outlet for the Warm stale water replaced by the fresh water supplied by the melting of the ice. A plurality of apertures 44, preferably arranged in a number of rows horizontally disposed in the portion of the side walls of the container opposite to the compartment 3l and above the level of the overflow outlet 42, are provided to allow aeration of the water in the container when the lid 24 is closed. Obviously, this device must be adapted for easy transportation and any suitable handle means may be secured thereto. In the drawings, there is represented handle means comprising two laterally disposed handles 30, as well as lid fastening `means 25 and 28, but any suitable handle means may be provided to co-act with the lids 24 and 25 fastening the same in closed position when the handle means is in operative position. Furthermore. the construction of the compartment 3| may be altered considerably without departure"v from the' scope and@ spirit'. of" this. in;- vention, and it is believed that such modications fall clearly within the scope of the appended claims.

With the foregoing description of the mechanical details of construction in view, the method of operation of this device will be`| obvious; but in recapitulation it may be. pointed out that ice. or another suitable coolant is placed in the com'- partment 3l, preferably being packed tightly` therein, and a suflicient amount of Water is f placed in the container to-ll the same up.. to the overflowA 42. Liveminnowsor other suitable live. bait are then placed. in` the containerv andv the lidsl and I8 `are fastened down by the fas tening members 26. and 2:8. The ice in meltingretains.T the water in the container. atv a. low.. temperaturefand the bait is-keptl in healthy condition. Theibucket isadapted'to, be transported tothe shinggrounds and although the-iid i6 shouldv be kept closed, theilid I8may beraised i whenever it is required to obtain fresh bait from the-container.

Although there' has been: shown a.l particular embodiment` of this invention; this,l application is-notlimited to this particular embodiment, butitis desired `to include in the scopeof this-invention, construction; combination and: arrangement: of' parts and portionsf substantiaily' as set forth in the appended; claims.

Having: thus *describedthis invention; whatvis claimed asY newv and .desired toV be secured: by Letters Patent is:y

1'. AY bait bucket ccmpiisingfa container adaptedt'o be partially lledwith water, across member secured across.V the top of'.r saidf containen. a coolant compartment'. laterally disposed within said: container and'. at' the top thereof, aw drain pipe xed to and depending from said? compari/- ment to a point close to the bottom of said container, and two lids hingedly secured to said cross member covering and allowing access selectively to said compartment and to said water lled portion of said container, the upper portion of the container opposite said compartment having a plurality of small apertures for aerating the water.

2. A bait bucket comprising a container adapted to bepartiallitfillednvitliiwater,,aycross memberl securedl anross thei top' offvsaid' container, a coolant compartment laterally disposed within said container and at the top thereof, a drain pipexed to and depending from said compartment to a point close to the bottom of said containenanditwo lids hingedly secured to said cross member covering, and allowing access selectively to said compartment and to said water filled portion of said container, the upper portion of the container opposite said compartment having aplurality of -small apertures for aeratingfthe water, said4 compartment being; definedv by.- ai par.- tial false bottom inv said container and a` substantially Vertical wall depending from said cross member, which cross member 'isescantly' disposed on the top of said container; saidcontainer having a water overflow aperture at a level beneath said false bottom to prevent waterfromA enter,- ing said compartment andfor directly-voiding a volume of stale warml Water equaltothe Volume of fresh-cold water formed by the melting. ofthe coolant when said coolant is ice.

ALFREDy G. MQRREMT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are; ofrenord-rinitlie le` of this patent:

UINITED. STATES PATENTS Number Name Date: Re; 16,605 Ridler Apr; 26192? 372,124 Craig (Det, 25, 1887 4325711 Poole eti al.v July. 22; 1890 5.7451049' Trigg Dec;.29; 1396 S51-,6831 Fischer Mar; 8; 19.10: 1','.;-?Z3,830`I Petty Apr;.5, 1921' 1,587,785- MarshY et al; JuneBLlSZ 2,179,095 Kelsey- Nov. 7,. 1939 

